PA Museums 2020 Special Achievement Awards
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s incredible transformation of an adjacent historic Library, the first commissioned by Andrew Carnegie, into MuseumLab has received a 2020 Institutional Award of Merit from PA Museums. At more than 35 years young, this celebrated museum is well-known for providing meaningful, engaging experiences for elementary school aged children and younger, and their families. The addition of MuseumLab to its campus delivers exceptional museum programming for older kids through three exhibit areas, two learning labs, programming space, a host of commissioned artwork, and multiple partner organizations focused on serving children.
A learning laboratory to explore the connections between informal and formal learning spaces, MuseumLab is a place to experiment, research, and innovate. Its cornerstone partner – Manchester Academic Charter School – moved their middle school onto the second floor. Combined with two existing Pittsburgh Public School Head Start classrooms in the main Children’s Museum, 200 students now use Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh as their school.
PGH Museums Affiliate Promotion
An outstanding example of adaptive reuse, the energy efficient MuseumLab is the first building in the United States to achieve a Universal Design certificate from the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA) at the University of Buffalo for its design that is welcoming to all. Exhibits within MuseumLab include Make Lab, which provides wood and metal working equipment, fiber arts, and electronic supplies to create long-term and complex projects. Studio Lab, MuseumLab’s main art gallery, features large-scale art and technology installations where children and families experiment and create. Designed in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), Tech Lab features digital making experiences with coding, game-creation, and augmented reality.
MuseumLab’s commissioned art pieces include a major sculptural installation created by the architectural design practice FreelandBuck, entitled OverView, which layers fabric, cables, and hardware to mimic the original stained glass patterns of the Library’s ceiling. Artists Gabe Felice, Branden Koch, Ramon Riley, Mia Tarducci, and Maureen Walsh created murals and installations in the space, while artist Manca Ahlin used traditional, intricate lace-making techniques to transform the former Library’s cast-iron stacks into a three-story interactive signature experience of tunnels, hammocks, and bridges.
Through its hands-on exhibits, programs, artist residencies, research, professional development, work in the community, and now MuseumLab, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a national leader in innovative, arts and culture experiences, and cutting-edge learning design. PA Museums is proud to recognize the museum’s latest achievement with this statewide award.
